Means for centrifugal dyeing



March 11, 1952 R. A. RUSSELL 2,588,415

MEANS FOR CENTRIFUGAL DYEING Filed May 20, 1950 5 Sheets-*Sheet l JNVEN TOR.

IPOBEAT A. Al/J-SElL March 11, 1952 R. A. RUSSELL MEANS FOR CENTRIFUGAL DYEING 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 20, 1950 INVENTOR.

ROBERT A. RUJJELL BY 7514 32, -OAWL 15M A TTO PIVEKJ 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 u A; W m N. a 0 p March 11, 1952 A RUSSELL MEANS FOR CENTRIFUGAL DYEING Filed May 20, 1950 Patented Mar. 1 1, 1952 MEANS FOR OENTRIFUGAL DYEING Robert A. Russell, Alexandria City, Ala., assignor to The Russell Manufacturing Company, a corporation of Alabama Application May 20, 1950, Serial No. 163,176

3 Claims.

This invention relates to means for centrifugal dyeing of textile packages in a manner which is especially well adapted for use in the random dyeing of textile yarn.

The random dyeing of textile yarn has heretofore been commonly carried out by rewinding dye unless special penetrants and high solvent concentrations are used in the dye liquor. For example, in preparing the dye liquor for the conventional type of random dyeing operation employing an applicator roll, the dye pigment is commonly added to a carrier consisting of 98% organic solvent and 2% of a suitable penetrant.

According to the present invention, the dye liquor may be formed by adding the dye pigment to a carrier consisting of only 50% organic solvent and 50% water, without any penetrant at all. In addition, while two hours is required for random dyeing of an ordinary yarn package by the conventional method using an applicator roll, the same package can be random dyed according to the present invention in about two minutes. These same advantages can be obtained by the method and means of the present invention in dyeing other types of textile packages and in other types of dyeing operations, although the invention is for convenience described in detail below mainly in relation to its use for the random dyeing of textile yarns because of the particularly advantageous manner in which it may be used in this field.

Briefly described, a centrifugal operation is carried out according to the present invention by disposing the textile package to be dyed on a perforated tubular carrier having a reentrant cylindrical bore, feeding dye liquor to the bore of this carrier while rotating it at a rate suflicient for distributing the dye liquor through the perforations in the carrier to the textile package, and then rotating the carrier at a higher speed for extracting the dyed textile package while still in place on the carrier. This method, and the means employed according to the present invention for carrying it out, are described in detail below in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a centrifugal dyeing apparatus arranged in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary right side elevation, partly broken away, of the centrifugal. dyeing apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail taken substantially on the line 3- 3 in Fig. 2, and illustrating the relative arrangement of a yarn package disposed on a carrier of the type used according to the present invention, and secured in place on the spindle of the centrifugal. dyeing apparatus shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 4 is an exploded detail further illustrating the relative arrangement of the carrier and spindle shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail of the carrier With a dyed yarn package in place;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of a modified form of carrier comprising an outer cone for supporting the textile package directly, and an associated mounting adapter;

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary sectional detail illustrating a modified form of the centrifugal dyeing apparatus of the present invention adapted for handling textile packages supported on a carrier in the nature of a warp beam; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary detail illustrating the manner in which the carrier shown in Fig. 7 may be adapted for handling through subsequent processing operations in the usual manner.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the embodiment of the centrifugal dyeing apparatus of the present invention illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 comprises a frame structure H) on which a tubular hood l2 of substantial diameter is mountedso that it slopes gradually downward towards the rear of the apparatus. Centrally within this hood 12, a spindle shaft I4 is supported on a vertically disposed bracket IS in suitable bearings as at l8. At its rear end, this spindle shaft I4 is fitted with a pulley 20 at which it is driven from an electric motor or the like as at 22. The spindle shaft !4 is also fitted intermediately of its length with a collar member 24 over which a brake shoe or the like as indicated at 25 is arranged for application through a brake rod as at 28 running from a pivoted hand lever 30 extending for convenient manipulation at the front end of the hood 12. The forwardly extending end of the spindle shaft I4 is threaded to receive a spindle member 32, which is in turn arranged to receive a carrier 34 for the textile package P to be dyed.

The form and arrangement of the spindle 32 and the carrier 34 are illustrated more in detail in Figs. 3 and 4, in which the base of the spindle 32 is shown formed with a threaded aperture as at 30 for fitting on the threaded end of the spindle shaft 14 as mentioned above, and the remaining portion of the spindle 32 is shown extending in a hollow tubular form for receiving the carrier 34. The carrier 34, being adapted for dyeing a yarn package, has a conical form which may be adapted for allowing the supported yarn package P to be withdrawn directly after dyeing for a subsequent processing operation in the same general manner disclosed in my prior Patent No. 2,489,465. In order to adapt the carrier 34 for mounting on the spindle 32, it is formed adjacent each end with internal bushing portions as at 38 and 40, and it may be further formed with one or more intermediate internal 7 partition portions as at 42. In any case, the intermediate bore of the carrier 34 between the bushing portions 38 and 40, and any partition portion 32, is cylindrical in form and of enlarged diameter, so that one or more reentrant bore portions of cylindrical shape are formed in the carrier as at 4 3 and 4t, in which the perforations in the walls of the carrier 34 open as at 68. The tubular portion of the spindle 32 is likewise perforated as'at 50, and is fitted with internal collar portions as at 52 and 54 in substantial correspondence with the bushing portion 38 and partition portion 42 of the carrier 34, so that the spindle 32 is similarly formed with reentrant bores as at 56 and 58 in which the perforations 50 open.

This arrangement of the spindle 32 and carrier .34 is provided according to the present invention so that dye liquor may be fed to the bores 50 and 50 of the spindle 32 for distribution by centrifugal force through the spindle perforations 50 to the bores 44 and 40 of the carrier 34, and through the carrier perforations 48 to the wound yarn package P supported on the carrier 3 3. In order to feed the dye liquor in this manner, the frame structure [0 is arranged to support an overhead supply tank 60 from which a gravity feed line 62 runs to a control valve as at Eli fitted with an extending injector tube 68 adaped for insertion in the tubular portion of the spindle 32. The depending length of the gravity feed line 02 is made flexible, and the control valve 64 and injector tube 66 are assembled as a unit and suspended flexibly as at 08, so that they may be manipulated easily for this insertion of the injector tube 66 in the tubular portion of the spindle 32.

-With the yarn package P supported on the carrier 36, and the carrier 34 in place on the spindle 32, the centrifugal dyeing operation of the present invention is carried out by feeding the dye liquor interiorly of the tubular portion of the spindle 32 while rotating the spindle 32 and the carrier 34 and package P mounted thereon at a relatively high speed of the order of 2,000 R. P. M., for example. As this is done, the dye liquor fed interiorly of the carrier 32 is distributed outwardly through the perforations 50 and 48, respectively, of the spindle 32 and carrier 34, as mentioned above, to the yarn package P, and in this connection it should be noted that the bores 56 and 58 of the spindle 32, and c4 and 46 of the carrier 34, are in each case formed cylindrically so that the dye liquor is distributed with substantial evenness through the perforations 48 of the carrier 34. and the resulting dyeing efiect is therefore affected onl by the pattern of perforations used, as will be explained more at length presently, rather than by the position at which the perforations 43 open in the bores 44 and at.

As previously noted, an intermediate portion 42 does not have to be used in the carrier 34, and the dye liquor may be distributed to the yarn package P from a single intermediate bore extending between the bushing portions 38 and 40, if desired. However, it is usually desirable to use a partition portion :2 where random dyeing effects are desired in a package P of conical form, because better control of the dye distribution at diiferent points in the package P, which will be different in size, can be obtained by feeding the dye liquor separately at these different points, as through the bores ift and 6%. Also, there is a further advantage in using an intermediate partition portion 02 in that it allows different dye colors "to be distributed at different points in the yarn package P if desired.

The dyeing operation when carried out in the manner just described above results in distribution of the dye liquor through the yarn package P almost instantaneously as it is fed to the tubular portion of the spindle 32; and, partic ularly where the method and means of the present invention are being used for a random dyeing operation, the dyeing operation can be controlled easily and rapidly from the valve 54 by feeding dye liquor to the tubular portion ofthe' spindle 32 only until the dye color can be seen at the surface of the rotating yarn package P, which will indicate distribution of the dye completely through the yarn package P, and which will take place in a matter of seconds. i

As noted above, the spindle 32 on which the carrier 34 and yarn package P are supported is rotated through the spindle shaft it from a drive motor 22, which may be arranged con-' venient operation from a switch box it having a control lever as at 2 for varying the speed of the drive motor 22. During the dyeing operation this control lever is set for the speed necessary to obtain effective distribution of the dye liquor by centrifugal force, which may be of the order of 2,000 B. P. M., as already men tioned. After the dyeing operation com pleted, the switch box it is arranged so that the control lever l2 may be adjusted for aneven higher speed for the drive motor 22, and consequently the spindle shaft l4, so that extraction of the dyed yarn package P can be carried out while it is still in place on the spindle 32. For this purpose, the extraction speed should be about twice the speed used during the dyeing operation, so that where a spindle speed of 2,000 R. P. M. is used for dyeing, the spindle speed for extraction of the order of 4,000 R. P. M. should be used.

During this extraction period, the carrier liquid to which the dye pigment has been added in forming the dye liquor will be thrown off by centrifugal force, and any excess dye liquor will be carried off at the same time. The extracted material coming off in this manner will be caught on the surrounding wall portions of the tubular hood l2, and to insure drainage of this extracted material downwardly in the hood l2, the vertical bracket Iii on which the spindle shaft [4 is supported, is also arranged to allow a fan to be mounted as at T4 for producing a suction draft through the hood l2 from its front end. This draft can be regulated easily to pull the extracted material backwardly along the walls of the hood I2 so that it will drain to the bottom portion of the hood l2 and through a suitable outlet as at "I6 for collection in a container as at I8. The arrangement of the fan I4 also serves the important function of providing means for carrying off any solvent fumes, such as are characteristically encountered in a dyeing operation, and which would otherwise be even more pronounced in the present case because of the extraction method used as just described above.

In order to provide means for securing the carrier 34 for rotation with the spindle 32, the carrier 34 is formed at its base with an axially projecting annular flange 80, and the base portion of the spindle 32 is formed with an annular groove as at 82 adapted to receive this flange 80. The groove 82 is further fitted with at least one transverse pin 84 adapted to be received in a bayonet-type slot formed in the annular flange 80 with an open-end longitudinal portion as at 86 and a lateral closed-end portion 88. The open-end longitudinal portion 88 of this slot allows the flange 80 of the carrier 34 to be fitted in the annular groove 82 of the spindle 32, and the lateral closedend portion 88 is provided to allow the carrier 34 to be twisted slightly on the spindle 32 and thereby engage the pins 84 in looking relation, the lateral closed-end slot portion 88 extending for this purpose in the direction of rotation of the spindle 32.

It will also be noted that this lateral slot portion 88 is inclined towards its closed end away from the open end of the longitudinal slot portion 88, and this feature provides for automatic release of thecarrier 34 on the spindle 32 by reason of the fact that when the brake lever 30 is applied to stop the spindle 32 after the dyeing operation has been completed, the momentum of the carrier 34 and yarn package P will give them a tendency to overrun, so to speak, which will cause the pin 84 to move out of the lateral slot portion 88, and as this happens the inclined disposition of the lateral slot portion 88 will cause the carrier 34 to shift towards the free end of the spindle 32 so that it will be disengaged from the pins 84and freed for removal readily as soon as the spindle 32 has stopped.

The general form and appearance of a yarn package P after random dyeing in .accordance with the present invention, is indicated in Fig. 5 of the drawing. In Fig. 5, a carrier 34 of the form illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 is indicated fully, in dotted lines where necessary, and the general surface configuration of the dyed portions of the yarn package P are represented as at D. The actual form of these dyed yarn package portions D as they appear at the outer surface of the package P will be affected some by the speed of rotation at which the dyeing operation is carried out, but for any given speed of rotation during the dyeing operation and any given pattern of perforations 48 in the carrier 34, a remarkable uniformity in the resulting dyeing effects can be maintained for a given size of yarn package P.

It should be also noted that the dyeing effect to be obtained is subject to considerable variation by variation of the pattern of perforations 48 in the carrier 34. A yarn package P as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing would, of course, be disposed on the carrier 34 with a spiral winding pattern (as indicated by broken lines at S), and acpordingly the manner in which the perforations 48-are oriented in relation to these spiral windings S will determine the extent to which each adjacent winding receives the dye liquor distributed through the yarn package P. For example, if the perforations 48 were arranged in a pattern generally corresponding to the path of the spiral windings S in one direction, then most of the adjacent spiral windings S in that direction would receive dye liquor over a length corresponding generally to the length of the perforation pattern, while the adjacent spiral windings S in the other direction would receive dye liquor only in a length corresponding generally to the width of the perforation pattern. It will accordingly be seen that by varying the arrangement of the perforation pattern in relation to the direction of these spiral windings S a great variety of random dyeing effects can be obtained. Also, the shape of the perforations 48 can be modifled to obtain further variations. In any case, where a, random dyeing effect is desired, the perforations 48 are spaced in at least one circumferential series, with the spacing of the perforations 48 being arranged for directing the dye liquor to separated portions of the yarn package P. The perforations 48 ma otherwise be arranged in groups spaced circumferentially as illustrated in the drawings to obtain a random dyeing effect.

Fig. 6 of the drawings illustrates a modification of the carrier 34 to a form comprising an outer perforated conical carrier formed of paper, plastic or the like, to pro ide an inexpensive expendable carrier of the type fre uently used in the textile industry for su port ng yarn p ckages, and a mountin adapter 92 that is otherwise similar to the previouslv described carrier 34. except for t e pro ision of lu s as at 94 to interfit with notches 98 at the bottom edge of the cone 90 for keying it in place so that t e perforations 38 in t e cone 90 will be ali ned with the necessary perforations in the mounting adapter 92.

Fi s. '7 and 8 of the drawin s illustrate a further modification of t e centrifu al dveing apparatus of the present invention for use in dyein textile packa es disposed on carriers in the nature of warp beams. In Fig. '7. t e tubular hood for t e a aratus is s o n at IM, and the dve linuor in ector tube fra mentar lv at 102 as it would be disposed for feedin dve liouor 1nteriorly of the tubular portion of the spindle I04 which, as shown. is sup orted in fixed bearin s as at "'8 and I08 between which a spindle driving pullev as at I I0 is arran ed; and a movable bearing I I2 arranged to be displaced. so that textile packages mav be placed on and removed from t e spindle I04. and to be clam ed in place as bv clamping studs II4 to sup ort the free end of the spindle I 04 durin the dyeing operation. As in the previous embodiment described above, the spindle I04 is fitted with internal collar portions I I6 arranged in substantial correspondence with end bushing portions I I8 and I20 and intermediate partition ortions I22 of a tubular carrier I24, the carrier I24 and spindle in: each being formed with perforations I 26 and I28 respectively at the resulting reentrant bores.

The bushing portions H8 and I20 of the carrier I24 in this case take the form of end plates adapted for attachment to end flanges I30 arranged on the carrier I24 in the general manner common in warp beams and the like, one of these end plates I20 being fixed to the spindle I04 and thereby providing means for securing the carassent rier 124 for rotation with the spindle I04. By this arrangement it is possible to employ end plates to form the bushing portions H8 and I which may be secured to the end flanges I of the carrier 124 interchangeably with mounting shaft end plates 532 of the conventional form used for spacing a mounting shaft as at I34.

The yarn package P disposed on the carrier 124 may be formed of yarn as in the case of a Warp beam, or it may consist of a wound fabric web, and the perforations 126 in the carrier I24 may be spaced to distribute the dye liquor to separated portions as at D of the yarn package P or a variety of adjacent stripe effects can be obtained easily with an arrangement of this sort. In any case, the manner of carrying out a dyeing operation with a textile package of this type is exactly similar to the procedure described in connection with the first embodiment above, and the same procedure can likewise be applied for dyeing other types of textile packages.

I claim:

1. Means for dyeing a textile yarn package, comprising a hollow spindle, means to rotate said spindle, sets of perforations in said spindle, said sets of perforations being axially spaced, a partition within said spindle between said sets, a partition at one end of said spindle, the other end of said spindle being closed, axial openings in said partitions, a yarn package carrier on said spindle, means to mount said carrier for rotation with said spindle, a cylindrical bore within said carrier, and flanges extending radially inwardly of said .bore in registry with said partitions and said closed end of said bore of said spindle, and contacting said spindle, and perforations leading from said bore to the exterior of said carrier, said carrier having a conical exterior surface.

a 2. Means for dyeing a textile yarn package, comprising a hollow spindle disposed horizontally, means to rotate said spindle, sets of perforations in said spindle, said sets of perforations being axially spaced, partitions within said spindle between said sets of perforations and at one end thereof, the other end of said spindle being closed, axial openings in said partitions, a yarn package carrier, means to mount said carrier on said 1 spindle for rotation therewith, a cylindrical bore partitions and said closed end of said spindle bore, said annular flanges fitting over the exte rior surface of said spindle, and perforations spaced between said flanges and leading from said carrier bore to the exterior surface of said carrier.

3. Means for dyeing a textile yarn package, comprising a hollow spindle disposed horizontally, means to rotate said spindle, sets of perforations in said spindle, said sets of perforations being axially spaced, partitions within said spindle between said sets of perforations and at one end thereof, the other end of said spindle being closed, axial openings in said partitions, a yarn package carrier, means to mount said carrier on said spindle for rotation therewith, a cylindrical bore within said carrier, annular flanges extending radially inward of said bore in registry with said partitions and said closed end of said spindle bore, said annular flanges fitting over the exterior surface of said spindle, perforations spaced between said fianges and leading from said carrier bore to the exterior surface of said carrier, whereby dye liquor may be fed to the bore of said spindle for distribution by centrifugal force through the perforations thereof to the bore of said carrier and through the perforations of said carrier to a wound yarn package supported thereon, and means for rotating said spindl at one speed while feeding dye liquor to the bore thereof and at a higher speed thereafter for extracting the dyed yarn package.

ROBERT A. RUSSELL.

CE S CIT ED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 15,716 Brewer Sept. 9, 1856 1,404,634 Morton Jan. 24, 1922 1,724,015 Gere Aug. 13, 1929 1,745,097 Johnston Jan. 28, 1930 1,759,157 Gere l\4ay 20, 1930 1,777,111 'Ifraver Sept. 30, 1930 1,798,623 Obermaier Mar. 31, 1931 1,799,972 Brandwood Apr. 7, 1931 2,303,697 Bergmann Dec. 1, 194-2 2,397.731 Fowler Apr. 2, 1946 2,513,381 Truitt July 4, 1950 

